Susantha de Fonseka
|
Sir Susantha de Fonseka KBE |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon | |
| First Ceylon's Ambassador to Japan | |
| First Ceylon's High Commissioner to Burma | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1900 Panadura |
| Died | 1963 Colombo |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Relations | Arthur de Silva |
| Alma mater |
Downing College, Cambridge, Royal College, Colombo St. John's College Panadura |
| Occupation | Politician, Diplomat |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ceylon |
| Service/branch | Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force |
| Years of service | (1937-1939) |
| Rank | Sub-Lieutenant |
Sir Kalutaravedage Deepal Susantha de Fonseka, KBE (1900–1963) was a Sri Lankan statesmen and diplomat. He was the Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon and following Ceylon's independence from Britain her first Ambassador to Burma and first Ambassador to Japan. De Fonseka took an active part in the country's struggle for universal suffrage and self-determination.
He was born to Dr C. P. De Fonseka and Muthutantrige Leonora Fernando Sri Chandrasekara, a daughter of Muthuthanthrige Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekera (1829–1908) of Sirinivasa. Susantha de Fonseka was raised by his uncle W Arthur de Silva who was a Minister of Health and a member of the Legislative Council.
Fonseka was educated at St. John's College Panadura, Royal College, Colombo and went on to study at Downing College, Cambridge, there he gained his MA. After leaving Cambridge entered the Inns of Court and qualified as a barrister. Upon his return to Ceylon he became the principal of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura after which he went on to become the editor of The Morning Leader.
Following his journalism career he entered the State Council as member for Panadura for the first time in 1931 and again after the 1936 general election. During the second State Council, when Sir Vaitilingam Duraiswamy was elected speaker, the Fonseka contested the post of Deputy Speaker and won against Major E. A. Nugawela, who later became a Minister in the first Cabinet of D. S. Senanayake. De Fonseka took an active part in the country's struggle for universal suffrage and self-determination. First it was with the Donoughmore Commission and later with the Soulbury commissioners (1943 - 1945). Susantha de Fonseka as the State Council member for Panadura, moved a motion in the State Council, by November 1944, to the effect that the Ministers "be directed to introduce immediately a Bill conferring on this country a constitution of the recognized dominion type for Free Lanka". He joined the newly formed Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force as the first Ceylonese commissioned officer, later his commission was withdrawn for stating in the State Council that the British were under-pricing Ceylon's rubber. He lost his seat in the 1947 general election to a candidate from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, marking the end of his political career.
...
Wikipedia